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Pete Polson faced three counts of attempted murder for the three people he shot at, and two of them were hit. Earlier this month, a jury only convicted him on one of those counts, and he got off on lesser charges for the other two.

Victim Zach Whitehill, a husband and father, says he wishes the punishment were harsher.

It's been nearly one year since Whitehill was shot in the back and neck by Polson, a complete stranger. Doctors told Whitehill the bullets missed hitting his carotid artery, spine and esophagus by millimeters.

“It just missed so much that could have killed me, and one went in as I was falling to the ground. So me falling a split second earlier or later could have made a big difference,” he said.

Whitehill will have permanent damage in his left bicep and needs physical therapy twice a week.

He still wonders why Polson was convicted of an aggravated misdemeanor instead of a forcible felony.

“Yeah, they didn't believe his defense, but it still should have been, in my eyes, attempted murder," Whitehill said.

Polson’s lawyer used the intoxication defense. During the trial, Polson told jurors he was too high on methamphetamine to form the intent to kill.

“I think he may have a drug problem, but that doesn't excuse what he did,” Whitehill said.

He hasn't forgiven Polson and told KCCI that he probably never will. But that doesn't mean he's dwelling on what happened.

“I never really looked for closure. It's done and over with. I survived it. I can move on,” Whitehill said.

His message to his shooter?

“Have fun in prison.”

Polson is facing more than 100 years in prison. He will be sentenced Dec. 8.